From what I know, you can. Not only can you customize facial features at the beginning of the game, but there's also clothing and accessories that you can buy and equip later on. One video had Thorton flaunting frame-less glasses like he was a Gucci model.

That's interesting. I assume then they are doing the same thing Bioware did with ME promotion with their default male Shepard. I hadn't heard anything about customisation in AP and just assumed they were going with a preset character for story purposes.

I don't think Obsidian have promoted the game very well. Seems like all they've done so far is show off how much of a ME clone it is. I really wish they'd feature some of the unique stuff I've heard whispers about.

I don't think Obsidian have promoted the game very well. Seems like all they've done so far is show off how much of a ME clone it is. I really wish they'd feature some of the unique stuff I've heard whispers about.

I believe that's more of Sega's failing, rather than Obsidian's. They often keep awareness of their games down to a low roar, unfortunately, especially when they've been actively releasing gems over the past few months. I certainly hope that Alpha Protocol sells well, as any extra profit extends Obisidian's lifespan over going belly-up like any other Black Isle offshoot. Of course, New Vegas will probably sell like hotcakes, as if anything that FO3 has told us, it's that Fallout is more of a mainstream brand now, which you can interpret in many ways.

I have massive doubts that it will do well, financially, for more than one of the reasons already stated. Partially, it's Sega's tradition for putting barely any marketing incentive compared to other publishing houses, which is, in many cases, good, but when they've been releasing fairly good titles as of late, it means that all of the good title get tossed under the rug by the media. That's why similar RPGs as of late () have received almost unanimous raise by the media, all because each publisher used extensive marketing techniques (I.E., hyping) in their advertising campaigns.

Of course, having a competing developer's release in the same month probably doesn't do wonders for your own title, too. :P

I don't think the problem lies in the level of exposure. I think they've had enough to get the game into the spotlight. I think the problem lies in the type of stuff they have shown, as I have said before.

Console shooter-RPGs like AP and ME tread a dangerous path. You can see they want to appeal to the mass-market shooter crowd, so they downplay the RPG elements and focus on the combat. That's a big mistake, as the shooter mechanics will likely be pretty poor compared to a straight FPS/3rdPS (as was the case with ME1) and visually it's nothing that hasn't been seen a gazillion times before. I think a lot of console shooter kiddies got burned with ME - they hated the combat and had to put up with constant breaks in the mindless combat for conversations (which they skipped through of course). No doubt they will be more cautious with AP.

ME scored a lot of coverage because the press got all excited by the conversation wheel (for some reason). Regardless of whether or not Obsidian came up with a similar idea independently, their system is going to be seen as a ripoff of ME, so that isn't going to win them much publicity (not of the positive kind anyway).

One of the things that could be a big winner for AP is all the supposed Bond-esque gadgetry, but we haven't really seen anything of this (other than some vague references and a few quick inventory pics). Again, they've chosen to play up the bland elements of the game that everyone has seen a bunch of times before.

Much like EA choosing to pair Dragon Age with a Marilyn Manson song, Sega's PR work for AP boggles the mind....

Yeah, the box art is rather unexciting, but I digress. As far as the subtitle goes; well, if Fallout had "A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game" as their subtitle on the box art, then I suppose others can do so as well.

Rating summary: This is a third-person shooter in which players assume the role of a special agent dispatched to track down stolen munitions and bring terrorists to justice. Players travel around the world, navigate through missions that increase characters' skill, and eliminate an assortment of enemies and terrorists. Players use shotguns, assault rifles, machine guns, grenades, and knives to kill enemies. Stealth attacks allow players to sneak up on and stab unsuspecting enemies. The most intense depictions of violence occur during interactive cutscenes where players have the option to "spare/wait" or "execute/goodbye" villains. Players can shoot surrendered enemies at close range with bullets to the stomach, kneecap, and forehead. Most injuries and deaths result in blood splatter that occasionally pools on the floor. During the course of the game, players can comes across exotic dancers dressed in skimpy clothing. In one scene, the central character has (implied) sex with a female villain: The villain is shown in underwear and climbs on top of the central character and mounts him; sexual activity is never depicted as the scene fades to black. One character in the game is depicted snorting cocaine from his hand; the central character comments that the person is "f*cking high."

Well, at least we won't see yet another awkward, cheek-clipping sex scene a la Mass Effect. The cocaine reference is also humorously written, as well as the confirmation that Thorton can throw out quips at a moment's notice.

I think a more Bourne-like cover art would have been less fail than it looks now. Still, I couldn't be less interested on the cover and more on the content itself. Game's definetely shaping to something good.

Argh, I don't think that box art is cheesy or corny. I actually like the font and the world map in the background. Seems appropriate for a modern day ''spy'' RPG. And like most other folks on this topic, I'm looking forward to Alpha Protocol. Hopefully, it won't be a disappointment.

This is the best trailer yet, and has completely enchanted me with this game. The safehouses seem to be much more than simply a starting location, and the various features are everything that I've ever wanted out of the generic "base" in RPGs. The ability to respond to emails using the standard dialogue system normally featured with conversations is brilliant. The weapon modification interface is exactly what I've been dreaming of in any game, and the facial customization system seems finely developed.

The dialogue also seems well-written, as of now, that is. Favorite line from Thorton: "Huh, Nasri. Why can't all terrorists be as fun to kill as you?"

I agree with you sir and also proclaim that I will not kill her during the game, because people as sexy as that should not be killed.

I really love the UI they've made, sleek and very in with the times. Nice to them develop such a lean and functional UI after the half-baked one in KotOR II. The video really impressed me, and like Jeff it's on my Top 5 list for sure. Just below Deus Ex, in fact. >_>

In fact, the game reminds me of Deus Ex, as I haven't seen an RPG in a modern setting since Deus Ex, so I'm really digging this shindig. The music at the end of the walkthrough strongly reminded me of Deus Ex. >_>

I agree with you sir and also proclaim that I will not kill her during the game, because people as sexy as that should not be killed.

Her name's SIE, and she's a former East German operative, now a mercenary. She's also a 40-year-old dominatrix, and lives on a "Join me or die, bitch" motto. In the end, I'm thinking she'll violently sodomize Thorton, but that's just a hunch.

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I really love the UI they've made, sleek and very in with the times. Nice to them develop such a lean and functional UI after the half-baked one in KotOR II. The video really impressed me, and like Jeff it's on my Top 5 list for sure. Just below Deus Ex, in fact. >_>

It definitely has that "realistic" feel, especially when using computers, much like how Deus Ex was. I'm hoping there's more computer-based elements, though, such as hacking into security systems and using them against enemies, as that never became stale in DX.

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In fact, the game reminds me of Deus Ex, as I haven't seen an RPG in a modern setting since Deus Ex, so I'm really digging this shindig. The music at the end of the walkthrough strongly reminded me of Deus Ex. >_>

The game definitely seems to broadcast similar feelings to what I basked in when playing Deus Ex, and I think it might have the potential to fill in empty RPG elements left out by DX (An actual dialogue system, for one). Only time can tell, though.

As far as music goes, from most of the the 90 second samples that I've gathered from the official website, it gives of a very suspenseful, orchestrated vibe to it, similar to any action flicks of the day, particularly Batman Begins. It does have more electronica-inspired beats to it, along with more big brass blasts for action scenes. The main theme, for one, is fairly minimalist, yet still "loud" enough to catch attention.